Ridin' Around - September 2005 - Custom Mini Trucks

Hometown * Cruisin' * Local * Customs

Plane JaneShawn from Kansas City is all about bringing new and different to the table. Plane Jane is a '90 Mazda sportin' a P-51 Mustang warplane theme. Shawn's ride sports a body drop, an airbag suspension, and a 350 motor swap. The Toyota bumper was lengthened to match the Mazda fenders - a mod that is often overlooked. This Mazda sports a one-off grille, cone-shaped hot-rod headlights, and six working exhaust pipes exiting the side of the vehicle. The interior is every bit as aggressive as a fighter jet, with a full aviation-inspired cockpit. Plane Jane has already taken some awards in the Midwest, and Shawn does put miles on it. Look for this ride to do some flybys in a neighborhood near you.

S-TroSteve Grybel is trying to close the generation gap with his retro, hot-rod-inspired '94 S-10. Riding lower to the ground on chrome and red smoothies helps make this ride turn heads. An updated front clip and roll pan add newer flavor to the S-series. Leather seats pulled out of an unsuspecting vehicle, an old-school Corvette steering wheel, and a pool ball shifter helps the exterior theme flow into the interior. Steve then added a Flowmaster exhaust for the old-school thunder. There are many plans in the future for this blast from the past, including suicide doors, an air-ride suspension, a 327 Vette engine with tri-power, and a wood-slate bed. Steve says he already has another project in the works; we can't wait to see what he comes up with next.

Flames, Flames, And, Uhh...More FlamesKenneth Parkman is the proud owner of this '96 Ford Ranger. Wanting to heat up the exterior, he opted for some vinyl flames by Redline Graphics. Continuing with this theme, flames engulf the windows as well as the seats and door panels. Something on this Ranger that would definitely catch your eye at a show would have to be the larger-than-life wizard sculpture in the bed. A 1,200-watt noise pollution ticket comes courtesy of Alpine and MTX. Keep an eye out for Kenneth's ride in the Houston area where, if you're lucky, you will catch his skeleton pit crew playing cards.

My Wife And KidsJohn Day of Live Oak, Florida, is 33, a father of three kids and a hard-core mini-trucker. This family man opted out of the minivan route and decided on a '97 Nissan King Cab. So far he has added a color-matching shell, had it lowered, and slapped on a set of 17-inch Limited wheels. The in-truck entertainment consists of two 10-inch Concept subs, a Pioneer head unit, quad 5x7s, and a flip-down screen for the kids. For those of you who think you can't be a family man and still be cool, follow John's example.

SonomordentsCasey Limerick of Bryan, Texas, is 18 and presently enrolled at Texas State Technical College in the paint and collision program. We guess his '99 Sonoma is in luck since it has already received a molded roll pan and a shaved tailgate handle. To complement the stock sport suspension, Casey opted for a set of 17-inch Eagle Alloys and Cooper tires. The interior is no bore either, having a slew of Rockford Fosgate speakers with a Fosgate amp pushing them to their limits. Future plans consist of suicide doors and hood, HIDs, new rims, and a new engine.

Southern DreamzJeremy Sword of Jacksonville, Arkansas, owns this '95 Isuzu. This pickup features a shaved body and custom paint by Brian Roe of Intense Paint & Body. The suspension is handled by Belltech drop spindles and de-arched leaf springs. Big plans are in the works for Jeremy's ride, including 'bags, a body drop, big wheels, a sunroof, and replacing the tired engine.

Mail Slot WindowsNext time at a show, when they are judging lowest vehicle by roofline, you might want to make a bet on Nelson Steigerwalt Jr. and his insanely chopped '92 Chevy S-10 extra cab. Buying this vehicle smashed made it a little easier to cut 5 inches out for the trash man. Being an auto body technician by trade, Nelson didn't have to throw down his hard-earned money. Liking the smooth and non-functional look as most of us do, Nelson shaved the taillights and the tailgate handle, and added a roll pan where the taillights now reside. Before the DuPont Chromapremier paint was laid, the stock hood was ditched in favor of a Goodmark cowl-induction model. The S-series was lowered 4 inches all around with the assistance of Belltech components and outfitted with Chevy Rally wheels. Nelson also has a S-10 Blazer in the works that is inspired by his current vehicle. We can't wait to see it.

AccessorizedJosh Henderson of Dekalb, Illinois, is off to a good start with his '98 Ford Ranger. He has already lowered it 4 inches in the front and 5 inches in back with DJM Suspension, added 16x10-inch American Racing wheels, and thrown on a host of billet products. APC zaps out the color with front and rear clear lighting. The undercarriage consists of a MagnaFlow exhaust and neon. The interior is no slouch either thanks to a heart-pounding stereo system consisting of two 10-inch Infinity Perfect subs, a 500-watt MTX amp, four Infinity 4x6-inch coaxials, and a Clarion flip-out head unit. Keep it up Josh; we hope to see more in the future.

Editor's Note: Getting your truck into Ridin' Around is a snap - of the camera, that is. All it takes is a couple of good-quality photos of your ride that are in focus and well lit. Due to the volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot return photographs. Please shoot and send photos of your truck only (no people, pets, Polaroids, or printouts) to: Mini Truckin' Magazine, Ridin' Around, 2400 E. Katella Ave., 11th fl., Anaheim, CA 92806. It is important that you include a detailed description of the modifications you have made to your truck, including any interesting stories behind it. This can include information about the buildup or any special history the truck has.